Wilpattu open only five hours a day

* Extended opening hours for Dehiwala zoo

The Wilpattu National Park will be open only for five hours in the morning from today (01), according to the Wildlife Conservation Department (WCD).

As the drought continues, the WCD has taken steps to limit the visitors to the park.

The department in consultation with the Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickerme Perera has decided to allow visitors to the Wilpattu National Park between 6.00 am to 11.00 am. The department had earlier decided to close the national park.

Meanwhile, the vising hours of a section of the National Zoological garden in Dehiwala will be extended till 10.00 pm.

The Department of National Zoological Gardens said that it had decided to extend the vising hours with the objective of attracting more visitors, especially foreigners.

According to the Acting Director General of Department of the National Zoological Gardens Dammika Malsingha, the visiting hours will be extended till 10.00 p.m. from September. Authorities believed more tourists would visit the garden at night.

The zoo will be open for the public from 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. from September 9.

Initially, the enclosure of nocturnal animals will be opened till late. All the members of the feline family will also be exhibited.

In addition, according to the Director General, vehicles will be provided to visit through internal roads and a new restaurant opened. The authorities expect the new scheme to generate more revenue.